Metro Map Methodology

Developed by ITDS, the “Metro map for planning and control” has already proved successful with several different insurers. The experience and knowledge that underscores it has now been bundled in the “ITDS Metro Map Methodology”, which is available in the market.The map visualises processes in the same familiar way as the map of an underground transport system, showing the various underground lines in different colours.Milestones in the planning and control (P&C) process are represented by “underground stations” and the intersection of underground lines makes it clear which processes depend on one another.

In the real world it is often difficult to get a planning and control cycle to run completely according to plan. Even for the people who are directly involved it can be difficult to maintain an overview, while those who are indirectly involved often have only a fragmented impression of their process in relation to other processes. The ITDS Metro Map Methodology is the answer. With it, all P&C processes are presented in a total overview on one page, with unnecessary details omitted. This makes it easier to control on the basics.

The ITDS Metro map Methodology offers clear advantages:

The metro maps show all processes and the key moments in a clear timeline. Thanks to the analogy with a “real underground map” it is immediately evident how the various processes run and which ones depend on others. Other planning graphics, such as lists or bar charts, always rely to a certain extent on the user’s interpretation.

The correlation between the various activities is clearly illustrated. Thanks to this it is immediately obvious what repercussions a delay in one milestone will have for other milestones. This makes it possible to respond in a timely manner to situations in which a lack of overview previously made this impossible to do.

Because interdependencies are immediately visible, it makes the various parties involved in the P&C cycle more aware of what other departments are doing. This helps keep unpleasant surprises to an absolute minimum and avoids the duplication of activities.

Reporting, monitoring and control is more straightforward, thanks to a dynamic dashboard that can be adapted with a limited number of actions.

Our approach

This is how we deploy the ITDS Metro Map Methodology:

We analyse the already available information.

We discuss milestones, as well as their respective timing and interdependencies. After a number of iterations the metro map is increasingly taking shape, and thanks to this and our experience it immediately leads to revised insights.

We create the associated dashboard from which the relevant steering and control can be orchestrated.

We deliver the metro map and dashboard.

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